Galveston County, TX Permit Fees (2026)
Building permit fees for unincorporated Galveston County, with a free permit fee calculator. Inside city limits? Pick your city below; incorporated cities have their own fee schedules.
Unincorporated Galveston County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county charges a floodplain development permit for building, placing, repairing or altering structures, priced from a valuation the county sets by floor area ($30.00 per square foot of living area, $12.50 per square foot of garage, deck or barn), plus a $10.00 application fee ($25.00 for beachfront permits reviewed by the Texas General Land Office). Above $100,000 of valuation this estimate uses the county's fee chart ($210.00 plus $0.50 per $1,000); the regulations' text prints a $215.00 base there, so the county may bill $5.00 more. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
In Unincorporated Galveston County, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs $120.00 in permit fees, and a $20,000 re-roof $60.00. Totals include the documented surcharges and minimum fees. Each figure is that single permit only: a job that combines trades, like a kitchen remodel with electrical and plumbing work, pays each applicable permit. Pick a project to load it in the calculator below.
Jump to Permit Fee CalculatorFloodplain Management Regulations of Galveston County, Article 4 Section J Fees and Appendix A Permit Fees (effective August 15, 2019)
Covers building and roofing permits. Minimum permit fee: $30.00.
Apply online at the Unincorporated Galveston County permit portal, or call 409-770-5552.
How Unincorporated Galveston County values a job: Galveston County sets the valuation of improvements at $30.00 per square foot of living area (also commercial structures and manufactured homes) and $12.50 per square foot of garages, decks, barns, storage areas and boat houses, then reads the permit fee from its valuation table.
Schedule effective August 15, 2019. Last verified: November 3, 2026
Jurisdictions in Galveston County
Jobs inside city limits are permitted by the city, not the county. Across Galveston County's 12 covered jurisdictions, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs from $52.50 (Texas City) to $1,300.00 (Jamaica Beach).
Unincorporated Galveston County Permit Fee Schedule
Every documented rule for each permit type, straight from the official schedule.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit Fees in Unincorporated Galveston County
Unincorporated Galveston County issues no mechanical or HVAC permit. Galveston County issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit in its unincorporated area; licensed electricians, plumbers and air conditioning contractors work under their Texas state licenses. The county's floodplain development permit covers building, placing, repairing or altering structures, and for new construction or a house move the county releases electric service only after that permit's final inspection passes. The county performs no fire code or gas line inspections. Inside a city's limits, the city permits the work.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Galveston County mechanical / HVAC permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageUnincorporated Galveston County Permit Fee Calculator
Pick a permit type and adjust the job value. Total updates instantly, itemized below.
Fees in Unincorporated Galveston County are the same either way.
Fees in Unincorporated Galveston County are the same either way.
Unincorporated Galveston County does not have a documented mechanical / HVAC fee for this project type in our sourced data yet. Check the official fee schedule linked above, or ask the building department.
Unincorporated Galveston County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county charges a floodplain development permit for building, placing, repairing or altering structures, priced from a valuation the county sets by floor area ($30.00 per square foot of living area, $12.50 per square foot of garage, deck or barn), plus a $10.00 application fee ($25.00 for beachfront permits reviewed by the Texas General Land Office). Above $100,000 of valuation this estimate uses the county's fee chart ($210.00 plus $0.50 per $1,000); the regulations' text prints a $215.00 base there, so the county may bill $5.00 more. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
Estimate only. Confirm with the Unincorporated Galveston County building department before applying. Apply online. Phone: 409-770-5552. Permit fees only; excludes impact fees, utility connection charges, and other non-permit charges.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Galveston County mechanical / HVAC permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageHow to Apply for a Permit in Unincorporated Galveston County
Apply online for a Floodplain Development Permit through the county's OpenGov permit portal. Before applying, use the county GIS map to confirm the property is in unincorporated Galveston County and to find its flood zone and distance from mean high tide; an Owner Acknowledgment is required with every application. A new driveway culvert on a county road also needs a driveway access permit from Road & Bridge (281-534-4125), submitted with the floodplain application. Allow 5 to 7 business days for an initial response (up to 10 for large developments); beachfront construction and dune protection applications on the Bolivar Peninsula also go to the Texas General Land Office for review. Once the application is approved you are prompted to pay online, or you can mail or bring a check to 722 Moody, Galveston, TX 77550 (no cash or American Express).
Source: Unincorporated Galveston County application instructions
Apply online: Unincorporated Galveston County permit portal- Phone
- 409-770-5552
- Address
- 722 Moody Avenue, Galveston, TX 77550
- Source
- Official contact page